This piece of furniture with two doors and four drawers was designed by industrial designer, Giuseppe Canevese and features the artwork of graphic artist Guido Crepax (1933-2003), who was influential in the development of European comic art in the second half of the 20th century. His most famous storyline, featuring the character “Valentina“, was created in 1965.

The collection “Valentina, la donna è mobile” stems from the theories of the Artistic Movement called Radical Design, which began in the Sixties in Tuscany (Italy) before spreading to other parts of the world. At that time, the way of doing architecture and in general of design, changed radically.

Objects and products were no longer designed just for their mere function, but were transformed into “emotional media” in which to encapsulate ideas, thoughts and yearnings that were, in particular, those of an entire generation.

Thus for the first time design became “radical” in the experience of the pioneers of this new movement of thought such as Archizoom and Superstudio, Alessandro Mendini, Gaetano Pesce and Ettore Sottsass (Memphis) and other designers that joined them as the years went by.

Influences from the world of art and philosophy contributed to the creation of innovative objects and pieces of furniture, projects and prototypes permeated by a new sense of critique on the function of things, which became critical with regards to a specific epoch.

This series was very much in the spirit of the 60s, incorporating eroticism, and psychedelic, and dream-like storylines. In Crepax’s work, many references are made to the works of 20th century ‘Avant-Garde’ artists, such as Magritte, Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, Piet Mondrian, Roy Liechenstain, and Andy Warhol.

If you are into the comic book genre, then you will absolutely love this piece of furniture.